IRISH riders continued their good form in the CSI*** at Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, last weekend with a series of wins and placings across the classes.

Last Friday, Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Silbermond finished fifth in the big tour 1.40m when incurring just one time fault 79.98. Paul Beecher and Loughnatousa Eric finished further down the line in seventh place when carrying four faults in 75.79. Beecher also took the runner-up spot with Britt M in the 1.20m, clear in 29.90 and third with Loughnatousa Zidane in the 1.30m, clear in 58.80.

There was another good result for Beecher in the 1.30m when he took the runner-up place with Danqu, clear in 56.99, behind Kayleigh Watts and Zantos in 55.49.

Brian Cassidy and Mega Heat Wave were third in 57.98 while Charles O’Reilly Hyland and Dinaroirl were sixth (61.76).

Also on Friday, Sligo’s Richard Howley was the best of the Irish in the 1.45 two phase when he took the runner-up spot with D.Millfield Darin, clear in 36.45. Howley was almost three seconds behind the winner Kevin Gonzalez De Zarate and Chevalier in 33.68.

On Saturday, Howley was back in the ribbons, taking second place with Chinook in the 1.50m when clear in 38.50. He was almost two seconds slower than the winner, William Whitaker and Fandango in 37.16. He added to his tally when taking third in the 1.45 with Calmond in 33.68.

Last Sunday, Beecher and Loughnatousa Eric finished third in the 1.45m, clear in 36.01. Later that day, Beecher also took the runner-up place with Britt M in the 1.20m, clear in 34.24 and fourth in the 1.30m with Danqu in 26.28. Brian Cassidy also featured in this line-up as he partnered Mega Heatwave into sixth, clear in 28.05.

Sunday produced a win for Shane Breen as he took the honours in the 1.40 two phase class when he clocked 33.27 with Silbermond.

In the 1.35 big tour two phase, Max O’Reilly Hyland and Enigma finished eighth, clear in 61.55. This combination later showed an improvement on form when taking third in the 1.40m, clear in 54.73. One place behind was Trevor Breen and Derby in 57.65.

Following on from his good results last week, Sheikh Samir Mirdad was back in the ribbons again taking second place in the Classic Tour A with Mirdads Baab Al Rayyyanksa, clear in 53.46 and third with Mirdad’s Nayyyarat Alrahmaaank, in 55.07.

Competitive Action

On Saturday, Samir took another runner-up spot when he delivered a clear with Mirdad’s Nayyyarat Alrahmaaank in 22.39 and true to form, went on to repeat this good performance the following day.

On Saturday, Derek McCoppin rode to victory in the 1.30m with Billy Diamond, clear in 54.77. McCoppin also landed another win in the 1.40m when he piloted Whiterock Lucky Lady to a clear in 63.56. Finishing in fourth place was Shane Breen and Silbermond in 69.93.

In the later 1.35m class, Co Down’s Dermott Lennon partnered Gelvins Touch into eighth place, clear in 35.97. This was the start of a good weekend for Lennon, who took fifth place in the 1.45 speed class with Vampire, clear in 53.17.

Lennon maintained this good form when slotting into sixth place in the 1.55m Grand Prix after an unfortunate time fault denied him a place in the jump-off. Riding Fleur, he took the runner-up spot in the big tour D 1.50m, clear in 66.75.

Lennon also featured in the seven-year-old young horse classes, fourth with Murlough Bay (ISH) in 70.79 and seventh with Ballygarvan (ISH) in 71.94.

Earlier in the tour, Lennon took the runner-up place in the 1.50m with Fleur IV in 66.75, ahead of Billy Twomey and Lizzie Mary, clear in 67.50. The win went to Louise Saywell (Patrol), clear in 66.12.